What is Your Formula for Success?
A success formula is like a recipe or set of instructions describing how to successfully and consistently create something.
For example, if your goal is to prepare at an elite level, what do you need to add to the mix that produces high-level preparation?
What habits, mentality, training, nutrition, and physical elements contribute to the formula? Likewise, if your goal is to elevate your game in competitions, what ingredients are necessary to ensure that outcome?
A success formula or recipe outlines the key components, step-by-step directions, and possible modifications necessary to meet your practice, improvement, or competition goal.
Why is a success formula necessary?
Too often, athletes have a list of no-nos or things to avoid heading into a competition.
Take, for instance, the following sports and commonly highlighted mistakes to avoid:
- Football – “Don’t turn the ball over, “Don’t throw any interceptions.”
- Basketball – “Don’t make unnecessary fouls,” Don’t force my shot.”
- Baseball – “Don’t leave the ball over the middle of the plate.”
- Swimming – “Don’t breathe off the turn.”
The problem is that a list of “don’ts” doesn’t instruct you on what to do. Focusing on what to avoid often leads to making those very errors.
To achieve athletic success, post a personal best, or secure a victory, you should focus on your mental and physical preparation, intended play style, mindset, and game plan.
How to create your success formula? Creating a success formula requires reviewing past performances and your best competitions and identifying what has worked for you.
In your best performances, how did you prepare, what was your mindset before the competition, what was your focus, what was your intensity level?
Your success formula is the combination of factors that elicited peak performance. When you focus on your strengths and success formula, you compete more confidently.
After a slow start to the 2024-25 NHL season, the Philadelphia Flyers tried to find their rhythm and piece together a string of wins.
Following a six-game losing streak, the Flyers won three of four games to steady themselves, including two consecutive games for the first time during the season.
Philadelphia right winger Bobby Brink, commented on the team’s need to replicate their successful style of play from a year ago.
BRINK: “We know what made us successful last year, and it was kind of playing the way we did these last two [games]. I think we’re getting back to it, and it has led to a couple of wins here.”
Every athlete and team has experienced success at some point in their careers. Within those successes are details that have contributed to peak performance. By highlighting past positive aspects, habits, and attitudes, you can create a formula that will contribute to future success.
After you have highlighted the specific ingredients that lead to successful and consistent performances, create a phrase to summarize your success formula.
This phrase should serve as a brief reminder of how you want to compete. A phrase such as “Outwork, out-hustle, and overcome” can remind you to stay aggressive, make hustle plays, and never give up.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- How to Reach for Your Athletic Potential
- How to Prevent Mental Mistakes During Competition
- How to Focus on Your Race for Triathletes
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“The Focused Athlete” audio and workbook program helps you or your athletes overcome distractions and sharpen your concentration during competition. You learn how to get locked in during practice and competition so you can improve and perform better.
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